❀ May Day Masquerade ❀

[ensorceler]

may day!


[ The castle grounds holding the gardens have been transformed into a spring party sensation. Tall banners carrying the Tudor rose have been arranged in a representation of a border surrounding the celebration and events, but there are no real walls or barriers. It might make guarding difficult for the few in her employ, but that's hardly Queen Anne's problem. Nobody will be kept away unless they arrive with no mask (or representation of a mask), and although it might be hard to tell considering it's a masquerade, there will be some people (not many) from the city who have decided tentatively to accept Anne's invitation, helping fill in the crowd.

The theater stage has been covered in flowers of all sorts, as are the four wooden thrones arranged in the center. Each seat is taken, a tie for both King and Queen making for double the fun! Robb and Lucrezia have dressed as Orion and Diana, while Zelos and Galadriel have chosen Odysseus and Penelope (with a little help). The tops of their heads have been left bare, at least for the opening ceremony.

In front of them stands Anne in her costume, and she waits for the crowd to quiet before she speaks. ]

Good citizens of Cair Paradisa and City Royale, you come here today to seek pleasure and company, and I have never seen a finer or more unique looking peoples. I know you may find it difficult to smile in the wake of such recent tragedy. All here have known loss, but we have not let it conquer us, have we? God is with us. Brave souls here risked the unknown to discover the cause, while other remained to help rebuild. I am fiercely proud to see such dedication to one another, and I can only hope such unity continues to blossom! The work on the city will continue, as will the rehabilitation of the survivors most affected by calamity.

But today we spread our arms wide and heartily welcome summer. Today we make merry and keep our loves close. Today we celebrate an unprecedented event, two Queens and Kings!

[ She turns and walks over to the thrones, where the ladies hold crowns of roses in their laps and the men crowns of wooden antlers. She names each as she settles the crowns atop their heads. ]

Queen Galadriel. King Zelos. Queen Lucrezia. King Robb.

[ In playful deference, Anne will lift her skirts and curtsy to the four of them when they stand to announce that the festivities begin! ]



{ Maypole Dance || Dance Floor || The Feast || Music & Donations || Maze & Wine Fountain || Bonfire }

Comments

[nothingtobelieve]

Enjoying the festivities?

[both_neither]

[Usually he would behave himself, but he's drunk enough that he simply backs up right into Vicious, smirking]

Am now.

[nothingtobelieve]

[He lets a hand rest briefly on Gren's hip, as no one who really matters is looking]

I see.

[both_neither]

What about you?

[nothingtobelieve]

It's tolerable.

[Which was probably as close to an admission of enjoyment as he'd ever get, anyway]

[both_neither]

[Gren chuckled and tilted his head back to rest on his comrade's shoulder, which is probably dangerous considering how much he's had to drink.]

Good. It's almost over though.

[nothingtobelieve]

[Vicious stayed where he was, if only to make sure Gren didn't fall over]

It ends when we want it to.

[Although given Gren's current state, a stagger back to the castle might well be the end of the night]

[both_neither]

[Hard to say. He certainly has the practice, though it's not every day he drinks like this.]

Well, lead the way to the after party, then.

[He sways as he rights himself, turning to drop an arm around the back of Vicious's shoulders]

[nothingtobelieve]

[He makes a noise that's half annoyance and half amusement, and presses a hand to the small of Gren's back as a means of directing him]

The castle is this way.

[Assuming they can make it through the crowd]

[both_neither]

[He's steadier once they start moving, and it might be easy to suspect that maybe half of the reason he's leaning all over Vicious is simply because he wants too, and is drunk enough not to hold himself back.]

...We should get a fireplace.

[He realizes he's never had once before and the feel of the flames on his back is nice. He can imagine doing more than sitting in front of it.]

[nothingtobelieve]

[It is pretty suspicious, but right now he doesn't really care enough to force Gren to walk on his own. The suggestion does get him an incredulous look, however]

If you want one, you can wish it up.

[both_neither]

[He sighs a little with frustration, because even drunk that was unlikely. He hated wishing]

Or I'll find an apartment with one. And a bigger bed. [And then he chuckled again]

[nothingtobelieve]

You do need one.

[Both an apartment and a bigger bed. But mostly the bigger bed]

[both_neither]

Once the real estate market in town improves, of course.

[nothingtobelieve]

Of course.

[He wasn't going to take odds on how long it would take Gren to relocate himself. He had his own room in the castle, but seemed disinclined to stay there]

[both_neither]

[Funny, that prison and Callisto had gotten him used to solitude, and he could occasionally appreciate it. Could choose it just to give Vicious a moment or two of breath space - a good enough to find other friends and keep himself busy - but he was beginning to be spoiled on the attention]

We could share it if you wanted.

[nothingtobelieve]

How domestic.

[He really wasn't any good at sharing. Gren should have realized that by now]

[both_neither]

[He laughed]

I think I skipped the part where I asked you to go steady.

[nothingtobelieve]

[Were he the type to roll his eyes, he might have. As it was, his expression didn't even change.]

You did.

[both_neither]

[This was sufficiently hilarious to Gren that he dissolved into helpless giggling for the next couple of minutes as they made their way into the castle.]